Best reunion games of 2017 NFL season

Photo by Scott Winters/Icon SportswireThe Patriots are going to rely on young acquisitions such as Brandin Cooks this season.

The 2017 NFL season will feature seven rematches from the 2016 NFL playoffs, including Super Bowl LI, when the New England Patriots rallied from a 25-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons.

It will also feature a number of notable reunions between players, coaches and their former teams. Here are some of the highlights broken down by when the matchups will be taking place.

Week 1

Seahawks RB Lacy faces Packers

Eddie Lacy posted at least 1,400 scrimmage yards and at least 10 touchdowns in each of his first two seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Lacy was limited to a total of 1,334 scrimmage yards over the past two seasons as he was hampered by injuries.

Week 2

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Brandin Cooks recorded 215 receptions in his New Orleans Saints career, tied for the most in a player's first three seasons in franchise history. Cooks is the only player since 2014 to score a receiving touchdown from every 10-yard segment of the field. The Saints traded Cooks to the Patriots for a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft.

Sean McDermott was the Panthers' defensive coordinator from 2011-16 and was at the helm when they reached Super Bowl 50.

Rams coach McVay faces Redskins

Before he became the youngest head coach in NFL history at time of hire, Sean McVay was the Redskins' offensive coordinator from 2014-16. Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins owns the top two passing-yard seasons in Redskins history, both coming with McVay as his coordinator.

Eagles coach Pederson faces Chiefs

Doug Pederson went 7-9 in his first year as Eagles coach, a job he took after spending 2013-15 as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator under Andy Reid. Kansas City went 31-17 in the three years Pederson spent with the Chiefs.

Week 4

Packers TE Bennett faces Bears

In an October 2016 ESPN E:60 profile of Martellus Bennett, the Packers tight end said the Chicago Bears “just had a bunch of b----es on the roster -- that's why we didn't win games -- and coaches liked the b----es."

Browns G Zeitler faces Bengals

Kevin Zeitler was a first-round pick in 2012 and played 82 of a possible 90 games during his Cincinnati Bengals career. The Browns lured Zeitler with a five-year contract with $31.5 million in guaranteed money, the most ever for a guard.

Week 6

Browns QB Osweiler faces Texans

On the first day of the 2016 free-agency period, Brock Osweiler signed a four-year contract with $37 million in guarantees with the Houston Texans. He had the fewest yards per attempt in 2016 but did go 8-6 as a starter in the regular season and won a playoff game. Houston traded Osweiler and his $16 million salary to the Cleveland Browns on the first day of the 2017 free-agency period.

49ers WR Garçon faces Redskins

In 2013, Pierre Garçon led the NFL with 113 receptions for the Washington Redskins. Last season at age 30, Garçon posted his second career 1,000-yard season.

Week 9

Lions G Lang faces Packers

From 2011 to 2016, T.J. Lang was the Packers’ leader in offensive snaps at 5,574. In that span, the Packers went 62-28-1 in games when Lang played.

Week 11

Vikings QB Bradford faces Rams

The St. Louis Rams drafted Sam Bradford first overall in 2010 and he went 18-30-1 over five injury-plagued seasons. The Rams traded Bradford to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015 and he was then traded to the Minnesota Vikings shortly before the 2016 season.

Chargers coach Lynn faces Bills

Anthony Lynn spent two seasons as an assistant with the Bills. In 2016, Lynn was promoted from running backs coach to offensive coordinator to interim coach when Rex Ryan was fired.

Week 12

Eagles WR Jeffery faces Bears

Despite playing only four seasons in Chicago, Alshon Jeffery's 4,549 receiving yards rank third in Bears history. Jeffery was suspended for four games in 2016 because of a performance enhancing drug violation, and he didn’t have a 100-yard receiving game after Week 1.

Stephon Gilmore had 14 interceptions, which was the most on the Buffalo Bills from 2012-16. Gilmore signed a five-year contract with $40 million guaranteed with the rival Patriots on the first day of the 2017 free-agency period.

Broncos coach Joseph faces Dolphins

Vance Joseph took over the defensive coordinator duties for the Miami Dolphins in 2016, helping them reach the postseason for the first time since 2008.

Dolphins coach Gase faces Broncos

Adam Gase was 10-6 in his first year with the Miami Dolphins. He spent 2015 as the Bears' offensive coordinator, but was Peyton Manning’s offensive coordinator in Denver during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Gase’s Broncos offense scored 1,088 points over his two-year span, 172 more points than any other team.

Week 14

Panthers OT Kalil faces Vikings

Matt Kalil was the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft and played every game in his first four seasons before missing 14 games in 2016 with a hip injury. Kalil signed a five-year contract with $31 million in guaranteed money with the Carolina Panthers, the most for an offensive tackle this offseason. Matt's brother Ryan Kalil plays center for the Panthers.

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